DHL cargo jet catches fire after runway brake lockup at LAX

In a recent tragic update, a DHL cargo aircraft encountered a critical mechanical malfunction during landing operations at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), resulting in locked landing gear, blown tires, and an active runway fire.

An emergency event involving a heavy braking malfunction and subsequent tire fire on a major commercial runway triggers a tightly choreographed multi-agency response.

As reported, Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) Operations and LAX Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) units scramble instantly to intercept the aircraft, positioning foam and dry-chemical trucks upwind of the fire.

Firefighters apply aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) directly to the landing gear assemblies to cool extreme wheel-brake temperatures and suppress active rubber/fuel-fed fires.

Blown tires under extreme thermal load present a severe secondary hazard due to potential wheel-rim fragmentation and high-pressure fuse-plug release.

The flight crew executes an emergency evacuation, if necessary, while Air Traffic Control (ATC) immediately halts all arrivals/departures on intersecting or adjacent runways to quarantine the hazard area.